Coloma Community School District
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Vote May 7, 2024!
Bond Issue Facts
The following is a list of Bond Issue Facts that explain the need for the proposed projects included in our upcoming May 7, 2024 bond proposals.
If you have a question not addressed here, please contact Superintendent Dave Ehlers at 269-468-2424 or dehlers@ccs.coloma.org to have your question answered.
Update Student Learning Environments at Each School (Proposal 1) - Our most significant facilities projects are also our most basic. By upgrading mechanical and electrical systems and partially replacing windows and exterior doors, we can help keep our students warm, safe, and dry.
Some of our student furnishings are worn out and need to be replaced. New furniture can provide our students with better flexibility, comfort, and collaboration opportunities. Additionally, some of our classrooms have much older technology that hinders their teaching ability. The bond proposal would address this through minor technology upgrades throughout the district.
ADA-necessary improvements to select toilet rooms are critical to making our schools as accessible as possible for students and staff with disabilities.
Demolish North Building (Old High School) (Proposal 1) - The North Building was originally built in 1929 and has been well maintained by the District. However, buildings are built to higher safety and construction standards today. The building has some fundamental inefficiencies, on top of the normal wear that occurs in a building almost 100 years old, that would be more costly to renovate than building a new auxiliary gym. The gym addition was built in 1957 as an addition to the old high school and would be demolished as part of Proposal 2.
HVAC with Added Cooling (Proposal 2) - All instructional spaces throughout the district would have improved HVAC systems with added cooling to improve the learning environments year-round and allow for more summer programming options. Our current system has limited cooling capabilities, and the temperature in some of our classrooms has exceeded 90° in the warmer months.
New Auxiliary Gym at Intermediate School (Proposal 2) - The new gym would be a replacement for the Alwood Gym and used for PE classes at the Intermediate School and athletic team practices. Community sports teams for our younger students would also use the new gym for practice spaces. The new space would also have a lobby and toilet rooms.
New Playground at Intermediate School (Proposal 2) - Relocating the playground at the Intermediate School behind the building and away from the traffic on West Street will increase student safety. Playgrounds provide students with opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and cognitive development during breaks, promoting overall well-being and enhancing their learning environment.
Energy Savings – Replacing our single-pane windows with double-pane, modern windows and upgrading and replacing old mechanical equipment with digitally controlled units would reduce expenses and save money for our operational budget, preserve programs for our students, maximize energy efficiency, and reduce waste.
Healthy Environments – Our goal is to improve our infrastructure to help students have healthy and safe educational environments. By improving air quality and replacing outdated building systems, we are taking care of our community resources.
High-Priority Projects – Based on community input, this plan addresses our most significant projects. Proposal 1 encompasses basic facility improvements and upgrades. Proposal 2 focuses on additional expanded facility upgrades identified through community feedback.
Provide Additional Funding for Students – By addressing some major renovation items through these bond issues, we would reduce the number of “band-aid” solutions to our facility problems and have more general funds available for the classroom, educational programs, and our students and staff.